Method for producing pluripotent cell using bacterium having fermentation ability

ABSTRACT

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing pluripotent cells that are free of the risk of cellular canceration and that can be applied to regenerative medicine with a high degree of safety. The present invention provides a method for producing pluripotent cells from somatic cells comprising a step of bringing bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof into contact with somatic cells.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for producing pluripotent cells using bacteria having fermentation ability.

BACKGROUND ART

ES cells are embryonic stem cells that were discovered in mouse embryos in 1981 and in human embryos in 1998. ES cells having the ability to develop into a variety of types of cells (i.e., pluripotent cells) except for the cells that constitute placenta have been primarily studied for the construction of tissues or organs therefrom. Because of the use of the fertilized eggs that would develop into new lives if they were allowed to grow smoothly, ES cells raise serious ethical questions. Another serious issue is the problem of rejection. When differentiated cells or organs prepared from ES cells are transplanted into a patient, the immune system of the patient may recognize such cells or organs as foreign substances and attack them.

In order to overcome the problems of ES cells, Professor Shinya Yamanaka et al. at Kyoto University developed cells capable of developing into various types of cells from dermal cells that are not generally differentiated into cells exerting other functions, and they designated these cells “iPS cells.” They demonstrated that introduction of four factors referred to as “Yamanaka factors;” i.e., Oct 3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, into mouse or human dermal cells with the use of a retrovirus vector would lead to reprogramming of cells and production of pluripotent cells, as is the case with ES cells (Non-Patent Document 1: Takahashi and Yamanaka, Cell 126, 663-676, 2006; and Non-Patent Document 2: Takahashi et al., Cell 131, 861-872, 2007). Since the cells used in such case are derived from somatic cells, such as differentiated dermal cells, of the patient him/herself, the immune system would recognize an organ prepared from the cells differentiated from the iPS cells as an autonomous organ upon transplantation thereof, and the transplant would accordingly not be rejected. As a result of the discovery of iPS cells, the issue of ethical concern regarding ES cells was overcome.

As described above, iPS cells have drawn attention worldwide as a powerful tool for regenerative medicine, although the technical problem of canceration of cells remains problematic. A cause of canceration is related to the introduction of the c-Myc gene into cells; however, iPS cells have been produced from the other 3 factors than the c-Myc gene in recent years. When introducing a gene into a cell, iPS cells were prepared with the use of the adenovirus or plasmid vector instead of the retrovirus vector. This allowed for the production of iPS cells with advanced safety and usefulness. However, this technique involves the artificial and forced expression of several genes in cells that had completed differentiation, and the risk that such cells would experience canceration in the future cannot be denied.

Meanwhile, Patent Document 1 describes a method of using Mycobacterium leprae or a component thereof so as to produce reprogrammed embryonic stem (ES)-like cells. Specifically, Patent Document 1 describes a method for producing reprogrammed ES-like cells comprising bringing Mycobacterium leprae or a component thereof into contact with a differentiated cell derived from an adult, and it also describes cells produced by such method. However, Mycobacterium leprae is a lepra bacillus, and application thereof to regenerative medicine remains problematic in terms of safety.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Non-Patent Documents

-   Non-Patent Document 1: Takahashi and Yamanaka, Cell 126, 663-676,     2006 -   Non-Patent Document 2: Takahashi et al., Cell 131, 861-872, 2007

Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: US Patent Application No. 2006/0222636 A1

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Object to be Solved by the Invention

As described above, embryonic stem (ES) cells that can be obtained during the process of the development of fertilized eggs into embryos or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells obtained from one's own body are pluripotent stem cells that can grow into substantially any type of tissue in the future. While the applicability of such cells to treatment of intractable diseases has been expected, these cells remain problematic in terms of ethical concerns and canceration risk. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing pluripotent cells that are free of the risk of cellular canceration and that can be applied to regenerative medicine with a high degree of safety.

Means for Solving the Object

In order to attain the above object, the present inventor focused on bacteria having fermentation ability, such as lactic acid bacteria and Bacillus subtilis var natto, and inspected the correlations between such bacteria and cells. Specifically, the present inventor confirmed that the human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) that had completed differentiation (Cell Applications, Inc., Cat No. 106-05a) would form cell masses, as in the case of ES cells or iPS cells, upon infection with lactic acid bacteria (i.e., Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (JCM20101), Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus (JCM20026), and Lactobacillus sp. (JCM20061), Japan Collection of Microorganisms, RIKEN BioResource Center), or Bacillus subtilis var. natto, and that such cell masses could be stained with alkaline phosphatase. In addition, these cell masses were found to express marker molecules (SSEA-4) that could be expressed specifically in ES cells or iPS cells. Further, these cell masses were found to differentiate into cells of the mesoderm or ectoderm. In general, pluripotent stem cells induced by lactic acid bacteria that are present in a human body may be used to overcome the problems of ethical concerns and canceration, and the use of such pluripotent stem cells enables the production of pluripotent cells that are applicable to regenerative medicine with a high degree of safety. The pluripotent cells produced by the method of the present invention can serve as useful materials for regenerative medicine in the treatment of diseases that were impossible to cure in the past. In the present invention, further, the endosymbiotic theory proposed by Margulis in 1970 (i.e., anaerobic eukaryotes ingested aerobic bacteria to realize the symbiotic conditions and then evolved into the eukaryocytes of the current conditions) was experimentally verified, and the origin of eukaryocytes having organelles that independently generate energy, such as mitochondria or chloroplast, can thereby be expected to be elucidated. The present invention had been completed on the basis of the above findings.

The present invention provides the following invention.

(1) A method for producing pluripotent cells from somatic cells comprising a step of bringing bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof into contact with somatic cells.

(2) The method according to (1), wherein the somatic cells are somatic cells derived from a mammalian.

(3) The method according to (1) or (2), wherein the somatic cells are somatic cells derived from a human or mouse.

(4) The method according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the somatic cells are cancer cells.

(5) The method according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the bacteria having fermentation ability are lactic acid bacteria or Bacillus subtilis var. natto.

(6) The method according to (5), wherein the lactic acid bacteria belong to the genus Lactococcus, Streptococcus, or Lactobacillus.

(7) The method according to (6), wherein the lactic acid bacteria are Lactococcus lactic subsp. Lactis, Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, Lactobacillus sp., or Lactobacillus acidophilus.

(8) The method according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the step of bringing bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof into contact with the somatic cells is a step of infecting the somatic cells with bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof. (9) The method according to any one of (1) to (8), which comprises a step of treating somatic cells with trypsin before bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof are brought into contact with the somatic cells. (10) A pluripotent cell, which can be produced by the method according to any one of (1) to (9). (11) A method for producing somatic cells which were induced to differentiate from pluripotent cells which comprises the steps of: (a) producing pluripotent cells by the method according to any one of (1) to (9); and (b) inducing the pluripotent cells produced in step (a) to differentiate. (12) A somatic cell which was induced to differentiate from pluripotent cells, which can be obtained by the method according to (11). (13) A kit used for producing pluripotent cells from somatic cells, which comprises bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof. (14) A method for producing non-cancer cells from cancer cells, which comprises a step of bringing bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof into contact with cancer cells. (15) The method according to (14), wherein the cancer cells are human cancer cells. (16) The method according to (14) or (15), wherein the bacteria having fermentation ability are lactic acid bacteria or Bacillus subtilis var. natto. (17) The method according to (16), wherein the lactic acid bacteria belong to the genus Lactococcus, Streptococcus, or Lactobacillus. (18) The method according to (17), wherein the lactic acid bacteria are Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis, Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, Lactobacillus sp., or Lactobacillus acidophilus. (19) The method according to any one of (14) to (18), wherein the step of bringing bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof into contact with the cancer cells is a step of infecting the cancer cells with bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof. (20) An non-cancer cell which can be produced by the method according to any one of (14) to (19). (21) An anti-cancer agent comprising lactic acid bacteria or a component or secretory product thereof. (22) The anti-cancer agent according to (21), wherein the lactic acid bacteria belong to the genus Lactococcus, Streptococcus, or Lactobacillus. (23) The anti-cancer agent according to (21) or (22), wherein the lactic acid bacteria are Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis, Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, Lactobacillus sp., or Lactobacillus acidophilus. (24) A method for screening for an anti-cancer component derived from lactic acid bacteria, which comprises a step of bringing lactic acid bacteria or a component or secretory product thereof into contact with cancer cells and a step of measuring the extent of conversion of cancer cells into non-cancer cells. (25) The method according to (24), wherein the lactic acid bacteria belong to the genus Lactococcus, Streptococcus, or Lactobacillus. (26) The method according to (24) or (25), wherein the lactic acid bacteria are Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis, Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, Lactobacillus sp., or Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, bacteria having fermentation ability, such as lactic acid bacteria, that coexist with cells in the human body are allowed to infect somatic cells, and pluripotent stem cells can then be produced. Since the method of the present invention does not require any artificial gene introduction procedure, the risk of canceration occurring in the produced pluripotent cells can be substantially equivalent to that in the normal state. The method for producing pluripotent cells according to the present invention that involves the use of bacteria having fermentation ability, such as lactic acid bacteria, is useful in the medical field (including drug discovery research and testing of safety, efficacy, and side effects of pharmaceutical products), disease research (elucidation of cause and development regarding therapeutic and preventive methods for intractable diseases), regenerative medicine (restoration of neurological, vascular, and organ functions), and the food industry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows HDF cells cultured together with lactic acid bacteria.

FIG. 2 shows the results of staining attained by infecting the HDF cells with lactic acid bacteria and staining the formed cell mass with an alkaline phosphatase coloring solution.

FIG. 3 shows the results of staining attained by infecting the HDF cells with lactic acid bacteria and staining the formed cell mass with anti-SSEA-4 antibody (MILLIPORE).

FIG. 4 shows the results obtained by infecting the HDF cells with lactic acid bacteria and subjecting cDNA derived from the formed cell mass to RT-PCR.

FIG. 5 shows the results of examination attained by infecting the HDF cells with lactic acid bacteria or Lactobacillus sp. and inspecting whether or not the formed cell mass can be maintained for a long period of time.

FIG. 6 shows the results of staining attained by infecting the HDF cells with lactic acid bacteria and staining the resultants with the anti-α-SMA antibody (a vascular marker), the anti-Desmin antibody (a mesoderm marker), the anti-Tuj1 antibody (a nerve cell marker), and the anti-GFAP antibody (a glial cell marker), respectively.

FIG. 7 shows the results of culture attained by infecting the HDF cells with lactic acid bacteria and culturing the resultants with a culture solution that induces the cells to differentiate into bone cells, fat cells, or cartilage cells.

FIG. 8 shows the results of observation attained by infecting the HDF cells with lactic acid bacteria and observing the formed cell mass under an electron microscope.

FIG. 9 shows the results of microarray-based gene expression analysis of tRNAs purified from the control HDF cells (C-HDF) and from the HDF cells infected with lactic acid bacteria (Bala-HDF).

FIG. 10 shows the results attained by infecting the HDF cells with lactic acid bacteria, administering the resultants to one of the testes of an SCID mouse, and inspecting the formation of teratoma 3 months later.

FIG. 11 shows the results attained by isolating mouse embryonic fibroblasts from E12.5 GFP mouse embryos, infecting the cells with lactic acid bacteria (JCN1021), and culturing the cells for 5 days.

FIG. 12 shows the results attained by infecting breast cancer cells (MCF7), hepatic cancer cells (HepG2), or lung cancer cells (A549) with lactic acid bacteria (JCM1021) and conducting culture for 4 days.

FIG. 13 shows the results of cell culture conducted with the addition of yogurt to hepatic cancer cells (HepG2) and breast cancer cells (MCF7) for 9 days.

FIG. 14 shows the results of RT-PCR attained by infecting hepatic cancer cells (HepG2) with lactic acid bacteria (JCM1021), recovering the cells 4, 8, and 12 days thereafter, and conducting RT-PCR with the use of c-Myc and CEA cancer cell markers.

FIG. 15 shows the results attained by preparing cell masses of lung cancer cells (A549), transplanting the resulting cell masses hypodermically to 8-week-old female nude mice, and observing tumor formation approximately 1 month later.

FIG. 16 shows the results of measurement of the weight of tumors extracted 40 days after hypodermic transplantation thereof. Control mice were subjected to tumor transplantation in the absence of lactic acid bacteria (JCM1021), and the target mice subjected to lactic acid bacteria injection 3 times were subjected to tumor transplantation in the presence of lactic acid bacteria (2×10⁸ in 0.2 ml each), followed by further lactic acid bacteria injection on Day 3 and Day 6.

FIG. 17 shows HDF cells cultured together with Bacillus subtilis var. natto or E. coli.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereafter, the present invention is described in greater detail.

The method for producing pluripotent cells from somatic cells according to the present invention is characterized by a step comprising bringing bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof into contact with somatic cells.

In the present invention, any somatic cells can be used for reprogramming, without particular limitation. Specifically, the term “somatic cells” used in the present invention refers to any cells which constitute an organism, except for germ cells. Differentiated somatic cells or undifferentiated stem cells may be used. Somatic cells may originate from any organisms, such as mammalians, birds, fish, reptiles, or amphibians, without particular limitation, with mammalians (e.g., rodents such as mice or primates such as humans) being preferable, and humans or mice being particularly preferable. When human somatic cells are used, such somatic cells may be derived from an embryo, a newborn, or an adult. When the pluripotent cells produced by the method of the present invention are used for the treatment of a disease in the field of regenerative medicine, the use of somatic cells isolated from a patient with the disease of interest is preferable. In the present invention, cancer cells can be used as somatic cells. By bringing bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof into contact with cancer cells, non-cancer cells can be produced from the cancer cells. In the present invention, a step of bringing bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof into contact with somatic cells (including cancer cells) can be carried out in vitro.

The term “pluripotent cells” used in the present invention refers to cells capable of autonomous replication under particular culture conditions (specifically in the presence of lactic acid bacteria) for a long period of time and capable of differentiating into a plurality of types of cells (e.g., ectoderm, mesoderm, or endoderm cells) under particular differentiation-inducing conditions, and these cells may also be referred to as “stem cells.”

In the present invention, bacteria having fermentation ability or a component or secretory product thereof are brought into contact with somatic cells.

Bacteria having fermentation ability used in the present invention are not particularly limited. Aerobic bacteria, such as lactic acid bacteria or Bacillus subtilis var natto, or anaerobic bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, may be used.

Lactic acid bacteria used in the present invention are not particularly limited. The term “lactic acid bacteria” is a generic term for bacteria capable of producing lactic acid from a saccharide via fermentation. Representative examples of lactic acid bacteria include those belonging to the genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, and Streptococcus, and such lactic acid bacteria can be used in the present invention. Use of lactic acid bacteria belonging to the genus Lactococcus, Streptococcus, or Lactobacillus is preferable. Use of Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis, Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, Lactobacillus sp., or Lactobacillus acidophilus is particularly preferable.

Examples of components of bacteria having fermentation ability include, but are not limited to, a cell wall, a nucleic acid, a protein, a cell organelle, a lipid, a sugar, a carbohydrate, a glucolipid, and a glycosylated sugar.

In the present invention, culture is conducted in the presence of bacteria having fermentation ability with the use of a common medium for cell culture. Thus, pluripotent cells or non-cancer cells according to the present invention can be separated and cultured. According to need, various growth factors, cytokines, or hormones (e.g., components associated with proliferation and maintenance of human ES cells, such as FGF-2, TGFβ-1, activin A, Noggin, BDNF, NGF, NT-1, NT-2, or NT-3) may be added to a medium used for culturing the pluripotent cells of the present invention. Moreover, the differentiation potency and proliferation potency of the separated pluripotent cells can be verified by a method of confirmation known with respect to ES cells.

The applications of the pluripotent cells and the non-cancer cells produced by the method of the present invention are not particularly limited, and these cells can be used for various types of testing, research, or disease treatments, or for other purposes. For example, the pluripotent cells produced by the method of the present invention can be treated with a growth factor, such as retinoic acid or EGF, or with glucocorticoid to induce differentiation into cells of interest (e.g., nerve cells, cardiac muscle cells, hepatic cells, pancreatic cells, or blood cells). The differentiated cells thus obtained can be returned to the patient's body, so as to realize stem cell therapy by autologous cell transplantation.

Examples of central nervous system diseases that can be treated with the use of the pluripotent cells of the present invention include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral infarction, and spinal injury. For the treatment of Parkinson's disease, the pluripotent cells are differentiated into dopaminergic neurons and then transplanted intrastriatally to the patient with Parkinson's disease. Differentiation into dopaminergic neurons can be carried out via coculture of the mouse stroma cell line (PA6 cells) and the pluripotent cells of the present invention under serum-free conditions. For the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, cerebral infarction, and spinal injury, the pluripotent cells of the present invention may be induced to differentiate into neural stem cells and then transplanted into the site of a lesion.

Also, the pluripotent cells of the present invention can be used for the treatment of hepatic diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver failure. For the treatment of such diseases, the pluripotent cells of the present invention may be differentiated into hepatic cells or hepatic stem cells and then transplanted. The pluripotent cells of the present invention may be cultured in the presence of activin A for 5 days, and culture may be further conducted for about 1 week in the presence of the hepatic cell growth factor (HGF). Thus, hepatic cells or hepatic stem cells can be obtained.

Further, the pluripotent cells of the present invention can be used for the treatment of pancreatic disorders, such as type I diabetes mellitus. In the case of type I diabetes mellitus, the pluripotent cells of the present invention may be differentiated into pancreatic β cells and transplanted into the pancreas. The pluripotent cells of the present invention can be differentiated into pancreatic β cells in accordance with a method of differentiating ES cells into pancreatic β cells.

Further, the pluripotent cells of the present invention can be used for the treatment of cardiac failure associated with ischemic heart diseases. For the treatment of cardiac failure, it is preferable that the pluripotent cells of the present invention be differentiated into cardiac muscle cells and then transplanted into the site of a lesion. By adding Noggin to a medium 3 days before an embryoid body is formed, the pluripotent cells of the present invention can be differentiated into cardiac muscle cells about 2 weeks after the embryoid body is formed.

According to the present invention, bacteria having fermentation ability (e.g., lactic acid bacteria) or a component or secretory product thereof are brought into contact with cancer cells, and non-cancer cells can then be produced from the cancer cells. Accordingly, the lactic acid bacteria, or a component or secretory product thereof, are useful as an anti-cancer agent, and the present invention can provide an anti-cancer agent which comprises lactic acid bacteria or a component or secretory product thereof.

According to the present invention, further, lactic acid bacteria or a component or secretory product thereof are brought into contact with cancer cells, the extent of conversion of cancer cells into non-cancer cells is assayed, and anti-cancer components originating from lactic acid bacteria can then be screened for. The anti-cancer components originating from lactic acid bacteria that are identified by the above-described screening method are useful as anti-cancer agents.

The present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the following examples, although the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Human dermal fibroblasts (HDF cells) (Cell Applications, Inc., Cat No. 106-05a) were cultured in a fibroblast growth medium (Cell Applications, Inc.) in a 10-cm petri dish. The cells were washed with 10 ml of CMF (Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺-free buffer). A 0.25% trypsin solution (containing 1 mM EDTA) was added in an amount of 1 ml and allowed to spread across and throughout the dish. The cells were introduced into a CO₂ incubator (37° C.) and allowed to stand therein for 5 minutes. A trypsin inhibitor solution (3 ml, Cell Applications, Inc.) was added to prepare a cell suspension, and the number of the cells was counted. Lactic acid bacteria (i.e., Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis (JCM20101), Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus (JCM20026), Lactobacillus sp. (JCM20061), or Lactobacillus acidophilus (JCM1021)) were introduced into a 6-well plate at 7×10⁷ cells/well in advance, and the HDF cells were then added (5×10⁵ cells/2 ml). Lactic acid bacteria purchased from the Japan Collection of Microorganisms of the RIKEN BioResource Center were used. The cells were cultured in that state in an incubator at 34° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂.

As a result, cell masses were observed several days later. The photographs shown in FIG. 1 show the conditions 8 days after the initiation of culture.

Example 2

HDF cells (5×10⁵ cells/2 ml) were infected with lactic acid bacteria (7×10⁷ cells) (i.e., Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis (JCM20101), Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus (JCM20026), or Lactobacillus sp. (JCM20061)) in a 6-well plate, culture was conducted in an incubator at 34° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂ for 8 days, the resulting cell masses were transferred to a 4-well plate, the plate was introduced into an alkaline phosphatase coloring solution (Roche), and color was allowed to develop at room temperature for 1 hour.

As a result, the cell masses turned purple, as shown in FIG. 2. This indicates that the HDF cells infected with lactic acid bacteria are pluripotent.

Example 3

HDF cells (5×10⁵ cells/2 ml) were infected with lactic acid bacteria (7×10⁷ cells) (i.e., Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis (JCM20101)) in a 6-well plate, culture was conducted in an incubator at 34° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂ for 8 days, and the formed cell mass was fixed with 4% PFA at room temperature for 15 minutes, followed by staining thereof with a mouse anti-SSEA-4 antibody (MILLIPORE).

As a result, the cell mass was found to express the SSEA-4 antigen, which would be expressed specifically by pluripotent cells, as shown in FIG. 3.

Example 4

HDF cells (2×10⁵/ml) were seeded on a 12-well plate, infected with lactic acid bacteria (2×10⁷ cells) (i.e., Lactobacillus acidophilus (JCM1021)), and cultured in an incubator at 34° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂ for 8 days. Half of the culture solution was exchanged every 5 days, and tRNA was purified from the 20 formed cell masses with the use of a Trizol reagent (Invitrogen) 2 weeks later.

cDNA was synthesized with the use of Oligo (dT) primer and SuperScript™ III (Invitrogen), and RT-PCR was carried out with the use of a set of primers for several genes reported to be associated with pluripotency. The amplified DNA was subjected to 2% agarose gel electrophoresis, and a band was detected via ethidium bromide staining.

As a result, induction of the expression of c-Myc, Nanog, Oct3/4, Sox2, and TDGF1, which were not expressed in the HDF cells, was observed in the cell masses infected with lactic acid bacteria, although expression of REX1, Fgf4, GDF3 or ECAT16 was not observed.

Example 5

HDF cells (5×10⁵ cells/2 ml) were infected with lactic acid bacteria (2×10⁷ cells) (i.e., Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus (JCM20026) or Lactobacillus sp. (JCM20061)) in a 6-well plate, culture was conducted in an incubator at 34° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂, half of the culture solution was exchanged every 5 days, and whether or not the cell masses could be maintained for a long period of time was investigated. Culture was conducted with the use of a fibroblast growth medium (Cell Applications, Inc.) to which lactic acid bacteria had been added or had not been added. In FIG. 5, the four photographs on the left show the conditions 30 days after the initiation of culture and the two photographs on the right show the conditions 50 days after the initiation of culture.

As a result, the cell masses were found to be maintained 50 days later if they had been cultured in the presence of lactic acid bacteria, while the cell masses that had been cultured in the absence of lactic acid bacteria were found to have undergone cell death, as shown in FIG. 5. This indicates that lactic acid bacteria are necessary for the maintenance of the cell masses.

Example 6

HDF cells (5×10⁵ cells/2 ml) were infected with lactic acid bacteria (2×10⁷ cells) (i.e., Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis (JCM20101)) in a 6-well plate, and the cell masses that had formed 8 days layer were subjected to culture on a glass cover coated with poly-L-lysine and laminin (Sigma, 50 μg/ml) for 7 days. The cell masses were fixed with 4% PFA at room temperature for 15 minutes, followed by staining thereof with a mouse anti-α-SMA antibody (Sigma, a vascular marker), a rabbit anti-Desmin antibody (Thermo, a mesoderm marker), a mouse anti-Tuj1 antibody (R&D, a nerve cell marker), and a rabbit anti-GFAP antibody (Dako, a glial cell marker).

As a result, it was found that the differentiated cells could be recognized by relevant antibodies, as shown in FIG. 6. This indicates that the HDF cells were differentiated into various types of cells.

Example 7

HDFs (5×10⁵ cells/2 ml) were infected with lactic acid bacteria (2×10⁷ cells) (i.e., Lactobacillus acidophilus (JCM1021)) in a 6-well plate, and the resulting cell masses were transferred to a 4-well plate 2 weeks later. Culture solutions that induce HDF cells to differentiate into bone cells (B: A shows a 96-well plate after staining with B), fat cells (C), and cartilage cells (D) (GIBCO; A10072-01, A10070-01, and A10071-01) were added in amounts of 500 μl each, half of the culture solution was exchanged every 3 days, and culture was conducted for an additional 2 weeks. In order to examine cell differentiation, the cells on each plate were subjected to staining with Alizarin Red S (bone cells), Oil Red O (fat cells), and Alcian Blue (cartilage cells).

As a result, the cell masses infected with lactic acid bacteria were found to be stained with Alizarin Red S (bone cells), Oil Red O (fat cells), and Alcian Blue (cartilage cells), as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, cell differentiation was confirmed.

Example 8

HDF cells (5×10⁵ cells/2 ml) were infected with lactic acid bacteria (2×10⁷ cells) (i.e., Lactobacillus acidophilus (JCM1021)) in a 6-well plate, half of the culture solution was exchanged every 5 days, and the formed cell masses were observed under an electron microscope in accordance with a conventional resin embedding method for ultrathin sectioning (Tokai Electron Microscopy was commissioned to perform the observation).

As a result, the presence of lactic acid bacteria was observed in the cytoplasm (the red arrow in the left diagram), as shown in FIG. 8. The right diagram is an enlarged view showing the framed region in the left diagram.

Example 9

tRNAs were purified from the control HDF cells (C-HDF) and the 20 HDF cell masses infected with lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus (JCM1021)) (Bala-HDF) with the use of a Trizol reagent (Invitrogen), and microarray-based gene expression analysis was performed (Agilent Whole Genome (4×44K) Human; type: one-color). Since this experiment was performed with the addition of lactoferrin (25 μg/ml) in order to improve the efficiency for cell mass formation, the cells were indicated with the term “Bala-HDF.” Oncomics Co., Ltd. was commissioned to perform the analysis.

The results are shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9-1 shows the results of cluster analysis of the genes exhibiting two-or-more-fold increases/decreases in gene expression levels. The group of genes exhibiting an increased expression level in Bala-HDF compared with that in C-HDF was designated as Group I, the group of genes exhibiting substantially the same expression levels in both C-HDF and Bala-HDF was designated as Group II, and the group of genes exhibiting a decreased expression level in Bala-HDF compared with that in C-HDF was designated as Group III. FIG. 9-2 shows the results of analysis conducted while paying attention to the group of genes that had been reported to be involved with the pluripotency of stem cells.

There were 108 genes exhibiting expression levels increased by 30 or more fold in Bala-HDF compared with that in C-HDF. In contrast, there were 126 genes exhibiting the expression levels decreased by 30 or more fold in Bala-HDF compared with that in C-HDF (Table 1). Concerning the genes related to the pluripotent stem cells, the expression level of the Nanog gene was increased by 8.5 fold and that of the Oct3/4 gene was increased by 2.7 fold in Bala-HDF compared with that in C-HDF. It should be noted that 19 types of Hox genes (i.e., the Homeotic genes) which play a key role in the determination of the structure along the body axis of every animal (Nos. 1 to 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, 22, 35, 47, 53, 59, 74, 117, and 121 in Table 1) are present in the genes which shows the expression levels decreased by 30 or more times in Bala-HDF compared with that in C-HDF.

TABLE 1 126 Genes exhibiting expression levels decreased by 30 or more fold in Lip cells than in HDFs Fold change Regulation [Bala-HGF] [Bala-HaF] vs vs raw data raw data Flag Flag no ProbeName UniGeneID GeneSymbol GeneName Description [C-HGF] [C-HGF] [Bala-HGF] [C-HGF] [Bala-HGF] [C-HGF] 1 A_24_P124558 Hs.664500 HOXC8 homeobox C8 Homo sapiens homeobox C8 (HOXC8), 594.18225 down 4.66344 2869.18900 Compromised Detected mRNA [NM_022658] 2 A_23_P500998 Hs.659350 HOXA9 homeobox A9 Homo sapiens homeobox A9 (HOXA9), 592.35516 down 3.55414 2179.96880 Compromised Detected mRNA [NM_152739] 3 A_23_P70968 Hs.660918 HOXA7 homeobox A7 Homo sapiens homeobox A7 (HOXA7), 547.44600 down 5.21965 3525.65870 Compromised Detected mRNA [NM_006896] 4 A_23_P363316 Hs.654456 HOXB5 homeobox B5 Homo sapiens homeobox B5 (HOXB5), 489.89343 down 3.73538 1894.82500 Compromised Detected mRNA [NM_002147] 5 A_33_P3341686 Hs.529901 XIST X (inactive)-specific Homo sapiens X (inactive)-specific 406.94977 down 17.06895 7192.51030 Detected Detected transcript (non- transcript (non-protein coding) (XIST). protein coding) non-coding RNA [NR_001564] 6 A_23_P66682 Hs.98428 HOXB6 homeobox B6 Homo sapiens homeobox B6 (HOXB6), 385.91574 down 44.43997 17758.20900 Detected Detected mRNA [NM_018952] 7 A_23_P148541 Hs.534310 CTAG1A cancer/testis antigen Homo sapiens cancer/testis antigen 1A 249.25270 down 93.85477 24223.07800 Detected Detected 1A (CTAG1A), mRNA [NM_139250] 8 A_33_P3300965 Hs.549040 HOXC6 homeobox C6 Homo sapiens homeobox C6 (HOXC6), 247.46118 down 33.13974 8491.59500 Detected Detected transcript variant 2. mRNA [NM_153693] 9 A_23_P7727 Hs.2799 HAPLN1 hyaluronan and Homo sapiens hyaluronan and 241.03157 down 2.67364 667.28190 Compromised Detected proteoglycan link proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1), protein 1 mRNA [NM_001884] 10 A_24_P77904 Hs.110637 HOXA10 homeobox A10 Homo sapiens homeobox A10 212.57760 down 2.51297 553.14400 Compromised Detected (HOXA10), transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_018951] 11 A_23_P7313 Hs.313 SPP1 secreted phospho- Homo sapiens secreted phosphoprotein 170.12749 down 5.62395 990.71533 Compromised Detected protein 1 1 (SPP1), transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_001040058] 12 A_23_P374695 Hs.89640 TEK TEK tyrosine Homo sapiens TEX tyrosine kinase, 168.16338 down 4.01029 698.29730 Compromised Detected kinase, endothelial (TEK), mRNA [NM_000459] endothelial 13 A_23_P3264528 Hs.249171 HOXA11 homeobox A11 Homo sapiens homeobox A11 135.72766 down 2.86949 403.27990 Compromised Detected (HOXA11), mRNA [NM_005523] 14 A_33_P3300975 Hs.549040 HOXC4 homeobox C4 Homo sapiens homeobox C4 (HOXC4), 131.16129 down 7.26983 987.33136 Compromised Detected transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_014620] 15 A_24_P264943 Hs.1584 COMP cartilage Homo sapiens cartilage oligomeric 126.96592 down 308.84100 40602.72700 Detected Detected oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), mRNA matrix protein [NM_000095] 16 A_23_P256956 Hs.718626 KIF20A kinesin family Homo sapiens kinesin family member 124.42455 down 18.31738 2359.94800 Detected Detected member 20A 20A (KIF20A), mRNA [NM_005733] 17 A_23_P25150 Hs.658823 HOXC9 homeobox C9 Homo sapiens homeobox C9 (HOXC9), 122.49983 down 52.65937 6679.50440 Detected Detected mRNA [NM_006897] 18 A_24_P218805 Hs.44276 HOXC10 homeobox C10 Homo sapiens homeobox C10 116.49500 down 2.27947 274.98307 Compromised Detected (HOXG10), mRNA [NM_017409] 19 A_23_P51085 Hs.421956 SPC25 SPC25, NDC80 Homo sapiens SPC25, NDC80 111.57378 down 98.13633 11337.70200 Detected Detected kinetochore kinetochore complex component, complex component homolog (S. cerevisiae) (SPC25), homolog mRNA [NM_020675] (S. cerevisiae) 20 A_24_P319613 Hs.153704 NEK2 NIMA (never in Homo sapiens NIMA (never in mitosis 107.40808 down 3.01208 334.99344 Compromised Detected mitosis gene a)- gene a)-related kittens 2 (NEK2), mRNA related kinase 2 [NM_002497] 21 A_33_P3318343 Hs.87225 CTAG2 cancer/testis Homo sapiens cancer/testis antigen 2 104.32980 down 62.47739 6749.38800 Detected Detected antigen 2 (CTAG2), transcript variant 2, mRNA [NM_020994] 22 A_23_P55281 Hs.436181 HOXB7 homeobox B7 Homo sapiens homeobox B7 (HOXB7), 98.93823 down 2.50469 256.59653 Compromised Detected mRNA [NM_004502] 23 A_23_P35219 Hs.153704 NEK2 NIMA (never in Homo sapiens NIMA (never in mitosis 96.84769 down 12.15671 1219.09720 Detected Detected mitosis gene a)- gene a)-related kinase 2 (NEK2), mRNA related kinase 2 [NM_002497] 24 A_33_P3276918 Hs.592116 FAM64A family with Homo sapiens family with sequence 95.78413 down 21.28121 2110.68300 Detected Detected sequence similarity similarity 64, member A (FAM64A), 64, member A mRNA [NM_019013] 25 A_33_P3421243 Hs.518808 AFP alpha-fetoprotein Homo sapiens alpha-retoprotein (AFP), 91.34399 down 4.93107 466.39575 Compromised Detected mRNA [NM_001134] 26 A_23_P1118174 Hs.592049 PLK1 polo-like kinase 1 Homo sapiens polo-like kinase 1 91.00964 down 27.14974 2558.50440 Detected Detected (Drosophila) (Drosophila) (PLK1), mRNA [NM_005030] 27 A_23_P43164 Hs.409602 SULF1 sulfatase 1 Homo sapiens sulfatase 1 (SULF1), 87.87735 down 242.28316 22046.17600 Detected Detected transcript variant 3, mRNA [NM_015170] 28 A_23_P118815 Hs.514527 BIRC5 baculoviral Homo sapiens baculoviral IAP repeat- 84.09252 down 897.69434 78166.19500 Detected Detected IAP repeat- containing 5 (BIRC5), transcript variant containing 5 3, mRNA [NM_001012271] 29 A_23_P118842 Hs.534499 KRTAP1-5 keratin associated Homo sapiens keratin associated 82.79930 down 69.21690 5934.33300 Detected Detected protein 1-5 protein 1-5 (KRTAP1-5), mRNA [NM_031957] 30 A_23_P3307495 Hs.24553 STRA6 stimulated by Homo sapiens stimulated by retinoic 81.89140 down 24.68651 2093.29790 Detected Detected retineic acid gene 6 acid gene 6 homolog (mouse) (STRA6), homolog (mouse) transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_001142617] 31 A_23_P79302 Hs.357567 LYPD6B LY6/PLAUR Homo sapiens LY6/PLAUR domain 81.38724 down 2.33069 196.41484 Compromised Detected domain containing 6B (LYPD6B), mRNA containing 6B [NM_177964] 32 A_23_P88331 Hs.77695 DLGAP5 discs, large Homo sapiens discs, large (Drosophila) 80.77577 down 74.09805 6197.56400 Detected Detected (Drosophila) homolog-associated protein 5 homolog-associated (DLGAP5), transcript variant 1, mRNA protein 5 [NM_014750] 33 A_33_P3387524 Hs.445098 DEPDC1 DEP domain Homo sapiens DEP domain containing 1 78.75519 down 2.93570 239.39984 Compromised Detected containing 1 (DEPDC1), transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_001114120] 34 A_33_P3245218 Hs.631957 ODZ2 odz, odd Oz/ten-m Homo sapiens odz, odd Oz/ten-m 78.10015 down 5.73433 463.73224 Compromised Detected homolog 2 homolog 2 (Drosophila) (ODZ2), mRNA (Drosophila) [NM_001122679] 35 A_23_P370588 Hs.514292 HOXB8 homeobox B8 Homo sapiens homeobox B8 (HOXB8), 76.56639 down 2.33384 185.03010 Compromised Detected mRNA [NM_024016] 36 A_32_P96719 Hs.123253 SHCBP1 SHC SH2-domain Homo sapiens SHC SH2-domain 75.35630 down 49.26647 3844.18380 Detected Detected binding protein 1 binding protein 1 (SHCBP1), mRNA [NM_024745] 37 A_23_P141624 Hs.247934 KRTAP1-1 keratin associated Homo sapiens keratin associated 72.33463 down 2.34718 177.01785 Compromised Detected protein 1-1 protein 1-1 (KRTAP1-1), mRNA [NM_030987] 38 A_23_P65757 Hs.194698 CCNB2 cyclin B2 Homo sapiens cyclin B2 (CCNB2), 71.74918 down 487.13727 36191.06200 Detected Detected mRNA [NM_004701] 39 A_23_P35871 Hs.523526 E2F8 E2F transcription Homo sapiens E2F transcription factor 71.73170 down 2.91475 216.49382 Compromised Detected factor 8 8 (E2F8), mRNA [NM_024680] 40 A_33_P3288159 Hs.121028 ASPM asp (abnormal Homo sapiens asp (abnormal spindle) 71.65447 down 38.55512 2860.60820 Detected Detected spindle) homolog, microcephaly associated homolog, (Drosophila) (ASPM), mRNA microcephaly [NM_018136] associated (Drosophila) 41 A_24_P323598 Hs.99480 ESCO2 establishment of Homo sapiens establishment of 89.80357 down 4.74371 342.86966 Compromised Detected cohesion 1 cohesion 1 homolog 2 (S. cerevisiae) homolog 2 (ESCO2), mRNA [NM_001017420] (S. cerevisiae) 42 A_23_P107421 Hs.515122 TK1 thymidine kinase 1, Homo sapiens thymidine kinase 1, 68.75995 down 1940.31380 138146.73000 Detected Detected soluble soluble (TK1), mRNA [NM_003258] 43 A_33_P3291831 Hs.14559 CEP55 centrosomal protein Homo sapiens centrosomal protein 68.03040 down 19.57336 1378.80080 Detected Detected 55 kDa 55 kDa (CEP55), transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_018131] 44 A_23_P155711 Hs.405467 NEIL3 nei endonuclease Homo sapiens nei endonuclease VII- 67.63126 down 3.82752 268.03870 Compromised Detected VIII-like 3 like 3 (E coli) (NEIL3), mRNA (E. coli) [NM_018248] 45 A_23_P215634 Hs.450230 IGFBP3 Insulin-like growth Homo sapiens insulin-like growth factor 67.36516 down 1824.75790 127283.97000 Detected Detected factor binding binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), transcript protein 3 variant 1, mRNA [NM_001013398] 46 A_23_P45011 Hs.486798 PPP1R14C protein Homo sapiens protein phosphatase 1, 66.81310 down 29.65725 2051.75500 Detected Detected phosphatase 1, regulatory (inhibitor) subunit 14C regulatory (PPP1R14C), mRNA [NM_030949] (inhibitor) subunit 14C 47 A_23_P316511 Hs.654560 HOXB3 homeobox B3 Homo sapiens homeobox B3 (HOXB3), 65.99564 down 2.28753 156.32037 Compromised Detected mRNA [NM_002146] 48 A_23_P52017 Hs.121028 ASPM asp (abnormal Homo sapiens asp (abnormal spindle) 65.81075 down 157.07414 10703.71700 Detected Detected spindle) homolog, homolog, microcephaly associated microcephaly (Drosophila) (ASPM), mRNA associated [NM_018136] (Drosophila) 49 A_23_P126212 Hs.175613 CLSPN claspin homolog Homo sapiens claspin homolog 65.52806 down 2.25390 152.93062 Compromised Detected (Xenopus laevis) (Xenopus laevis) (CLSPN), mRNA [NM_022111] 50 A_23_P138507 Hs.334562 CDC2 cell division cycle 2, Homo sapiens cell division cycle 2, G1 62.70113 down 119.53158 7760.52200 Detected Detected G1 to S and G2 to S and G2 to M (CDC2). transcript to M variant 1, mRNA [NM_001786] 51 A_23_P398854 Hs.122110 DOK7 docking protein 7 Homo sapiens docking protein 7 62.14818 down 2.55532 164.43954 Compromised Detected (DOK7), transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_173660] 52 A_24_P37253 Hs.21929 LYPD6 LY6/PLAUR Homo sapiens LY6/PLAUR domain 62.11988 down 2.63021 169.18219 Compromised Detected domain containing 6 (LYPD6), mRNA containing 6 [NM_194317] 53 A_33_P3271273 Hs.514289 HOXB2 homeobox B2 Homo sapiens homeobox B2 (HOXB2), 60.37445 down 23.25287 1453.65990 Detected Detected mRNA [NM_002145] 54 A_33_P3313075 Hs.714179 LOC100129619 hypothetical PREDICTED: Homo sapiens 59.50954 down 5.94992 366.63214 Compromised Detected LOC100129619 hypothetical LOC100129619 (LOC100129619), mRNA [XM_001717266] 55 A_23_P34788 Hs.720061 KIF2C kinesin family Homo sapiens kinesin family member 53.41870 down 273.92862 16853.63900 Detected Detected member 2C 2C (KIF2C), mRNA [NM_006845] 56 A_24_P299474 Hs.631957 ODZ2 odz. odd Oz/ten-m Homo sapiens odz, odd Oz/ten-m 58.33110 down 17.59517 1062.73900 Detected Detected homolog 2 homolog 2 (Drosophila) (ODZ2), mRNA (Drosophila) [NM_001122679] 57 A_23_P70249 Hs.856 CDC25C cell division cycle Homo sapiens cell division cycle 25 58.22949 down 30.77745 1855.70400 Detected Detected 25 homolog C homolog C (S. pombe) (CDC25G), (S. pombe) transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_001790] 58 A_23_P115872 Hs.14559 CEP55 centrosomal protein Homo sapiens centrosomal protein 57.81258 down 178.33205 10675.41700 Detected Detected 55 kDa 55 kDa (CEP55), transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_018131] 59 A_33_P3377529 Hs.533357 HOXA4 homeobox A4 Homo sapiens homeobox A4 (HOXA4), 57.78450 down 6.40620 383.30520 Compromised Detected mRNA [NM_002141] 60 A_33_P3807062 Hs.532968 HJURP Holliday junction Homo sapiens Holliday junction 56.66154 down 274.61868 16112.07700 Detected Detected recognition protein recognition protein (HJURP), mRNA [NM_018410] 61 A_23_P57588 Hs.386189 GTSE1 G-2 and S-phase Homo sapiens G-2 and S-phase 56.62428 down 44.89710 2632.41300 Detected Detected expressed 1 expressed 1 (GTSE1), mRNA [NM_016426] 62 A_24_P225616 Hs.226390 RRM2 ribonucleotide Homo sapiens ribonucleotide reductase 56.30852 down 70.34309 4101.36700 Detected Detected reductase M2 M2 (RRM2), transcript variant 2, mRNA [NM_001034] 63 A_23_P259586 Hs.169340 TTK TTK protein kinase Homo sapiens TTK protein kinase 56.15061 down 25.58659 1487.64700 Detected Detected (TTK). transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_003318] 64 A_24_P297539 Hs.93002 UBE2C ubiquitin- Homo sapiens ubiquitin-conjugating 55.08201 down 533.38605 30421.77100 Detected Detected conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2CX transcript enzyme E2C variant 6, mRNA [NM_181803] 65 A_23_P212844 Hs.104019 TACC3 transforming, acidic Homo sapiens transforming, acidic 53.95437 down 57.68809 3222.89280 Detected Detected coiled-coil coiled-coil containing protein 3 containing (TACC3), mRNA [NM_006342] protein 3 66 A_24_P346855 Hs.80976 MKI67 antigen identified Homo sapiens antigen identified by 53.93493 down 12.88017 718.32430 Compromised Detected by monoclonal monoclonal antibody Ki-67 (MKI67), antibody Ki-67 transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_002417] 67 A_23_P210176 Hs.133397 ITGA6 integrin, alpha 6 Homo sapiens integrin, alpha 6 (ITGA6), 53.34168 down 21.47094 1185.90750 Detected Detected transcript variant 2, mRNA [NM_000210] 68 A_33_P3258627 Putative uncharacterized protein 52.59529 down 2.31702 126.18560 Compromised Detected ENSP00000387024 [Source: UniProtKB/TrEMBL; Acc; B8ZZ63] [ENST00000409162] 69 A_23_P10206 Hs.159226 HAS2 hyaluronan Homo sapiens hyaluronan synthase 2 51.20701 down 50.60540 2683.23930 Detected Detected synthase 2 (HAS2), mRNA [NM_005328] 70 A_33_P3216008 Hs.88523 SKA3 spindle and Homo sapiens spindle and kinetochore 50.93999 down 12.93789 682.42560 Detected Detected kinetochore associated complex subunit 3 (SKA3), associated complex transcript variant 1, mRNA subunit 3 [NM_145061] 71 A_23_P423237 Hs.37167 SGCG sarcoglycan, gamma Homo sapiens sarcoglycan, gamma 50.23103 down 2.61723 136.12785 Compromised Detected (35 kDa dystrophin- (35 kDa dystrophin-associated associated glycoprotein) (SGCG), mRNA glycoprotein) [NM_000231] 72 A_23_P24129 Hs.40499 DKK1 dickkopf homolog 1 Homo sapiens dickkopf homolog 1 49.39177 down 971.48020 49684.58200 Detected Detected (Xenopus laevis) (Xenopus laevis) (DKK1), mRNA [NM_012242] 73 A_23_P163567 Hs.368421 SMPD3 sphingomyelin Homo sapiens sphingomyelin 49.28304 down 18.40829 939.38586 Detected Detected phosphodiesterase 3, phosphodiesterase 3, neutral neutral membrane membrane (neutral sphingomyelinase II) (neutral (SMPD3), mRNA [NM_018667] sphingo- myelinase II) 74 A_24_P416370 Hs.664706 HOXB4 homeobox B4 Homo sapiens homeobox B4 (HOXB4), 48.99025 down 21.78193 1104.94100 Detected Detected mRNA [NM_024015] 75 A_24_P225970 Hs.105153 SGOL1 shugoshin-like 1 Homo sapiens shugoshin-like 1 (S. pombe) 48.72279 down 10.13061 511.09410 Compromised Detected (S. pombe) (SGOL1), transcript variant A1, mRNA [NM_001012409] 76 A_24_P347378 Hs.507658 ALOX5AP arachidonate Homo sapiens arachidonate 5- 48.64382 down 2.26967 114.32042 Compromised Detected 5-lipoxygenase- lipoxygenase-activating protein activating protein (ALOX5AP), mRNA [NM_001629] 77 A_33_P3387831 Hs.208912 CENPM centromere Homo sapiens centromere protein M 47.62641 down 238.83578 11778.23800 Detected Detected protein M (CENPM), transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_024053] 78 A_23_P356684 Hs.62180 ANLN anillin, actin Homo sapiens anillin, actin binding 46.97221 down 89.14799 4335.96440 Detected Detected binding protein protein (ANLN), mRNA [NM_018685] 79 A_33_P3330149 Hs.270303 PAX6 paired box 6 Homo sapiens paired box 6 (PAX6), 46.52534 down 2.62064 126.24968 Compromised Detected transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_000280] 80 A_24_P30557 Hs.381715 TBX5 T-box5 Homo sapiens T-box 5 (TBX5), 45.04174 down 4.14714 193.41812 Compromised Detected transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_000192] 81 A_23_P146274 Hs.521651 STMN2 stathmin-like 2 Homo sapiens stathmin-like 2 43.26243 down 251.80971 11280.19100 Detected Detected (STMN2), mRNA [NM_007029] 82 A_33_P3303956 Hs.658061 LOC100133311 similar to PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to 43.11292 down 2.59771 115.96621 Compromised Detected hCG1644697 hCG1644697 (LOC100133311), mRNA [XM_002344295] 83 A_23_P130182 Hs.44265B AURKB aurora kinase B Homo sapiens aurora kinase B 42.91836 down 24.55805 1091.36500 Detected Detected (AURKB), mRNA [NM_004217] 84 A_23_P56347 Hs.654413 PSG3 pregnancy Homo sapiens pregnancy specific beta- 42.86491 down 93.47945 4149.07400 Detected Detected specific beta-1- 1-glycoprotein 3 (PSG3), mRNA glycoprotein 3 [NM_021016] 85 A_23_P122197 Hs.23960 CCNB1 cyclin B1 Homo sapiens cyclin B1 (CCNB1), 42.74203 down 517.57600 22906.70500 Detected Detected mRNA [NM_031966] 86 A_23_P100127 Hs.181855 CASC5 cancer susceptibility Homo sapiens cancer susceptibility 42.70049 down 13.65018 603.63723 Detected Detected candidate 5 candidate 5 (CASC5), transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_170589] 87 A_24_P280983 Hs.587427 HOXA11AS HOXA11 Homo sapiens HOXA11 antisense RNA 41.97556 down 34.17975 1485.58810 Detected Detected antisense RNA (non-protein coding) (HOXA11AS), (non-protein coding) antisense RNA [NR_002795] 88 A_23_P74349 Hs.851950 NUF2 NUF2, NDC80 Homo sapiens NUF2, NDC80 41.75897 down 109.18320 4720.18600 Detected Detected kinetochore kinetochore complex component, complex homolog (S. cerevisiae) (NUF2), component, transcript variant 1, mRNA homolog [NM_145697] (S. cerevisiae) 89 A_23_P373521 Hs.388245 HAND2 heart and neural Homo sapiens heart and neural crest 41.60090 down 13.50888 581.90924 Detected Detected crest derivatives derivatives expressed 2 (HAND2), expressed 2 mRNA [NM_021973] 90 A_33_P3311498 Hs.363603 LOC283392 hypothetical Homo sapiens hypothetical LOC283392 41.49494 down 5.94969 255.63634 Compromised Detected LOC283392 (LOC283392), transcript variant 1, non-coding RNA [NR_026837] 91 A_23_P151150 Hs.239 FOXM1 forkhead box M1 Homo sapiens forkhead box M1 41.37134 down 121.89368 5221.72360 Detected Detected (FOXM1), transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_202002] 92 A_23_P148475 Hs.548326 KIF4A kinesin family Homo sapiens kinesin family member 41.30457 down 83.02992 3551.12330 Detected Detected member 4A 4A (KIF4A), mRNA [NM_012310] 93 A_23_P68610 Hs.244580 7PX2 TPX2, microtubule- Homo sapiens TPX2, microtubule- 41.25013 down 243.59319 10404.55600 Detected Detected associated, homolog associated, homolog (Xenopus laevis) (Xenopus laevis) (TPX2), mRNA [NM_012112] 94 A_24_P140475 Hs.655143 SORBS2 sorbin and Homo sapiens sorbin and SH3 domain 41.04034 down 6.06472 257.72375 Compromised Detected SH3 domain containing 2 (SORBS2), transcript containing 2 variant 2, mRNA [NM_021069] 95 A_23_P124417 Hs.469649 BUB1 budding uninhibited Homo sapiens budding uninhibited by 40.92328 down 63.01636 2670.28000 Detected Detected by benzi- benzimidazoles 1 homolog (yeast) midazoles 1 (BUB1), mRNA [NM_004336] homolog (yeast) 96 A_23_P70007 Hs.720052 HMMR hyaluronan- Homo sapiens hyaluronan-mediated 40.85090 down 116.10930 4911.35940 Detected Detected mediated motility motility receptor (RHAMM) (HMMR), receptor transcript variant 2, mRNA (RHAMM) [NM_012484] 97 A_32_P150891 Hs.283127 DIAPH3 diaphanous Homo sapiens diaphanous homolog 3 40.27765 down 13.45490 561.14830 Detected Detected homolog 3 (Drosophila) (DIAPH3), transcript (Drosophila) variant 1, mRNA [NM_001042517] 98 A_33_P3708413 Hs.512842 MFAP5 microfibrillar Homo sapiens microfibrillar associated 39.62058 down 356.31840 14618.14000 Detected Detected associated protein 5 protein 5 (MFAP5), mRNA [NM_003480] 99 A_23_P96325 Hs.47558 ERCC6L excision repair Homo sapiens excision repair cross- 39.58863 down 20.08920 823.50500 Detected Detected cross- complementing rodent repair complementing deficiency, complementation grasp 6- rodent like (ERCC6L), mRNA [NM_017669] repair deficiency, complementation group 6-like 100 A_23_P167159 Hs.7122 SCRG1 stimulator of Homo sapiens stimulator of 39.33724 down 2.66140 108.40463 Compromised Detected chondrogenesis 1 chondrogenesis 1 (SCRG1), mRNA [NM_007281] 101 A_23_P121795 Hs.655143 SORBS2 sorbin and Homo sapiens sorbin and SH3 domain 38.97343 down 13.70106 552.91187 Detected Detected SH3 domain containing 2 (SORBS2), transcript containing 2 variant 2, mRNA [NM_021069] 102 A_23_P215454 Hs.647061 ELN elastin Homo sapiens elastin (ELN), transcript 37.86731 down 51.50940 2019.68640 Detected Detected variant 1, mRNA [NM_000501] 103 A_23_P117852 Hs.81892 KIAA0101 KIAA0101 Homo sapiens KIAA0101 (KIAA0101), 36.88694 down 540.27780 20635.85700 Detected Detected transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_014736] 104 A_23_P72668 Hs.26530 SDPR serum deprivation Homo sapiens serum deprivation 36.05926 down 4.32851 161.66243 Compromised Detected response response (SDPR), mRNA [NM_004657] 105 A_23_P323751 Hs.472716 FAM83D family with Homo sapiens family with sequence 35.86057 down 68.57602 2546.37650 Detected Detected sequence similarity 83, member D (FAM83D), similarity 83, mRNA [NM_030919] member D 106 A_33_P3326210 Hs.99480 ESCO2 establishment of Homo sapiens establishment of 35.85314 down 2.66392 98.89648 Compromised Detected cohesion 1 cohesion 1 homolog 2 (S. cerevisiae) homolog 2 (ESCO2), mRNA [NM_001017420] (S. cerevisiae) 107 A_23_P157136 Hs.655515 SCIN scinderin Homo sapiens scinderin (SCIN), 35.78193 down 2.38629 88.41367 Compromised Detected transcript variant 2, mRNA [NM_033128] 108 A_23_P375 Hs.524571 CDCA8 cell division cycle Homo sapiens cell division cycle 35.73556 down 524.05695 19391.53300 Detected Detected associated 8 associated 8 (CDCA8), mRNA [NM_018101] 109 A_23_P50108 Hs.414407 NDC80 NDC80 homolog, Homo sapiens NDC80 homolog, 35.48090 down 492.26477 18085.33000 Detected Detected kinetochore kinetochore complex component (S. cerevisiae) complex (NDC80), mRNA component (S. cerevisiae) [NM_006101] 110 A_32_P62997 Hs.104741 PBK PDZ binding kinase Homo sapiens PDZ binding kinase 35.46259 down 272.00460 9988.02700 Detected Detected (PBK), mRNA [NM_018492] 111 A_32_P140489 Hs.492277 GDF6 growth Homo sapiens growth differentiation 34.81978 down 3.73760 134.75726 Compromised Detected differentiation factor 5 (GDF6), mRNA factor 6 [NM_001001557] 112 A_33_P3272957 Hs.658061 LOC100133311 similar to PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to 34.80172 down 2.87419 103.57362 Compromised Detected hCG1644697 hCG1644697 (LOC100133311), mRNA [XM_002344295] 113 A_23_P163481 Hs.513645 BUB1B budding uninhibited Homo sapiens budding uninhibited by 34.57169 down 88.89745 3182.31400 Detected Detected by benzimidazoles 1 benzimidazoles 1 homolog beta (yeast) homolog beta (BUB1B), mRNA [NM_001211] (yeast) 114 A_33_P3311755 Hs.270845 KIF23 kinesin family Homo sapiens kinesin family member 34.17050 down 84.03610 2973.37900 Detected Detected member 23 23 (KIF23), transcript variant 1, mRNA [NM_138555] 115 A_23_P200310 Hs.445098 DEPDO1 DEP domain Homo sapiens DEP domain containing 1 34.04056 down 70.18784 2473.95400 Detected Detected containing 1 (DEPDC1), transcript variant 2, mRNA [NM_017779] 116 A_23_P58321 Hs.58974 CCNA2 cyclin A2 Homo sapiens cyclin A2 (CCNA2), 33.80436 down 59.81775 2093.80300 Detected Detected mRNA [NM_001237] 117 A_23_P501538 Hs.659337 HOXA3 homeobox A3 Homo sapiens homeobox A3 (HOXA3), 33.35369 down 2.40679 83.12165 Compromised Detected transcript variant 2, mRNA [NM_153631] 118 A_33_P3423585 Hs.657273 UNC13C unc-13 homolog C Homo sapiens unc-13 homolog C (C. elegans) 33.21877 down 2.73679 94.13646 Compromised Detected (C. elegans) (UNC13C), mRNA [NM_001080534] 119 A_24_P399888 Hs.208912 CENPM centromere Homo sapiens centromere protein M 32.49764 down 30.25951 1018.23220 Detected Detected protein M (CENPM), transcript variant 2, mRNA [NM_001002876] 120 A_24_P66027 Hs.226307 APOBEC3B apolipoprotein B Homo sapiens apolipoprotein B mRNA 31.39611 down 82.84677 2693.29900 Detected Detected mRNA editing editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide- enzyme, like 3B (APOBEC3B), mRNA catalytic [NM_004900] polypeptide- like 3B 121 A_23_P107283 Hs.514289 HOXB2 homeobox B2 Homo sapiens homeobox B2 (HOXB2), 31.19959 down 256.95248 8301.08400 Detected Detected mRNA [NM_002145] 122 A_33_P3368358 Hs.37982 NEDD9 neural precursor Homo sapiens neural precursor cell 31.14883 down 5.83776 188.28748 Compromised Detected cell expressed, expressed, developmentally down- developmentally regulated 9 (NEDD9), transcript variant down-regulated 9 2, mRNA [NM_182966] 123 A_33_P3255824 31.06368 down 4.28859 137.94330 Compromised Detected 124 A_23_P96158 Hs.2785 KRT17 keratin 17 Homo sapiens keratin 17 (KRT17), 30.95973 down 2.61022 83.67714 Compromised Detected mRNA [NM_000422] 125 A_33_P3242649 Hs.301052 KIF18A kinesin family Homo sapiens kinesin family member 30.24299 down 21.10955 661.05370 Detected Detected member 18A 18A (KIF18A), mRNA [NM_031217] 126 A_33_P3270514 Hs.61435 NBLA00301 Nbla00301 Homo sapiens Nbla00301 30.17527 down 4.17646 130.49452 Compromised Detected (NBLA00301), non-coding RNA [NR_003679]

Example 10

HDF cells (5×10⁵ cells/2 ml) were infected with lactic acid bacteria (2×10⁷ cells) (i.e., Lactobacillus acidophilus (JCM1021)) in a 6-well plate, and the cell masses were collected 2 weeks later, followed by treatment with trypsin. The cells (5×10⁵ cells/30 μl) were administered to one of the testes of a male SCID mouse (9-to-10 week-old), and the formation of teratoma was examined 3 months later.

As a result, the testis that had been infected with lactic acid bacteria (above) were found to have become somewhat larger than the control testis (below, another testis of the same mouse), as shown in the photograph of FIG. 10, but teratoma formation was not observed. Paraffin sections (6 μl) were prepared and subjected to HE staining. No differences were observed in the structure of the testis into which the JCM1021-infected HDFs had been transplanted or the control testis.

Example 11

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF cells) were sampled in accordance with the sampling method developed by the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology. A 12.5-day-old GFP mouse embryo was extracted from the uterus, and the head, the caudal portion, the extremities, and the visceral organ were removed. The remaining tissue was cut into small pieces with the use of surgical scissors, and the resultant was incubated in a 0.25% trypsin-EDTA solution at 37° C. for 15 minutes. After the incubation product had been filtered through a cell strainer, the remnant was suspended in a cell culture solution, and the cells constituting one embryo were seeded in a 10-cm petri dish. After the cells reached confluence, the cells were infected with lactic acid bacteria (JCM1021), as with the case of the HDF cells, and culture was then conducted for 5 days.

As a result, the MEF cells that had been infected with lactic acid bacteria were found to have formed cell masses, as shown in the photograph of FIG. 11.

Example 12

Breast cancer cells (MCF7; RBRC-RCB1904), lung cancer cells (A549; RBRC-RCB0098), and hepatic cancer cells (HEP G2; RBRC-RCB1648) were obtained from the RIKEN BioResource Center. In the same manner as in Example 1, lactic acid bacteria (i.e., Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis (JCM20101)) were introduced into a 6-well plate at 1×10⁸ cells/well in advance, and 5×10⁵ cancer cells were added thereto. Culture was conducted in such state in an incubator at 34° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂.

The results are shown in FIG. 12. Cell masses were observed several days later, as shown in FIG. 12. These photographs show the conditions 4 days after the initiation of culture.

Example 13

The experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, except that commercially available yogurt was introduced into a 6-well plate at 50 μl/well in advance, and 5×10⁵ cancer cells were added thereto. Culture was conducted in an incubator at 34° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂.

The results are shown in FIG. 13. Cell masses were observed several days later, as shown in FIG. 13. These photographs show the conditions 9 days after the initiation of culture.

Example 14

The experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 12 with the use of hepatic cancer cells (HEP G2) and lactic acid bacteria (JCM20101). The cells were recovered 4, 8, and 12 days after infection, and then RT-PCR was carried out by using c-Myc and the carcino embryonic antigen (CEA) as cancer cell markers.

The results are shown in FIG. 14. While both marker molecules were expressed on Day 0, the c-Myc expression level was decreased from Day 4, and the CEA expression level was decreased from Day 8, as shown in FIG. 14.

Example 15

According to the hanging drop method, cells are treated with trypsin, the treated cells are suspended in a culture solution at 1×10⁵ cells/20 μl, the cell suspension is added dropwise onto the lid of a petri dish, the lid is overturned, and the petri dish is then allowed to stand overnight. On the following day, a cell mass is observed at the tip of a drop, and the resulting cell mass is transplanted into a mouse. The hanging drop method was carried out using lung cancer cells (A549) to form cell masses. The resulting 5 cell masses were transplanted hypodermically to an 8-week-old female nude mouse. Tumor formation was observed approximately 1 month later (FIG. 15). The tumors were extracted and trimmed to the size of 4×4 mm each. Control tumor masses were soaked in a PBS solution. The test tumor masses were soaked in a solution of lactic acid bacteria (JCM20101) (1×10⁸/ml) at room temperature for 20 minutes. Thereafter, a single tumor mass was transplanted hypodermically to an 8-week-old female nude mouse. A solution containing lactic acid bacteria was injected into the target mouse of lactic acid bacteria test on Day 3 and Day 6. The tumor was extracted and weighed 40 days later.

The results are shown in FIG. 16. In comparison with the mouse into which the tumor had been transplanted, a reduction in tumor size was observed in the mouse which was infected with lactic acid bacteria and further injected with lactic acid bacteria.

Example 16

In the same manner as in Example 1, Bacillus subtilis var. natto or E. coli (XLI-blue, Stratagene) cells were introduced into a 6-well plate at 1×10⁸ cells/well in advance, and 5×10⁵ HDF cells (Cell Applications, Inc., Cat No. 106-05a) were added thereto. Culture was conducted in an incubator at 34° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂.

The results are shown in FIG. 17. While a cell mass was observed several days later in the presence of Bacillus subtilis var. natto, formation of a cell mass was not observed in the presence of E. coli, as shown in FIG. 17. These photographs show the conditions 8 days after the initiation of culture. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for altering the expression profile of fibroblasts, comprising treating fibroblasts with trypsin, bringing whole and live bacteria having fermentation ability into contact with fibroblasts in vitro, and culturing the fibroblasts, wherein the expression profile of the fibroblasts is altered and the altered expression comprises increased expression of Nanog and Oct3/4, and wherein the bacteria having fermentation ability are Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus salivarius, Lactobacillus sp., or Lactobacillus acidophilus.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fibroblasts are derived from a mammal.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fibroblasts are derived from a human or mouse.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bacteria having fermentation ability are Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis, Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, Lactobacillus sp., or Lactobacillus acidophilus.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein bringing whole and live bacteria having fermentation ability into contact with fibroblasts in vitro comprises infecting the fibroblasts with the bacteria in vitro.
 6. A method for producing somatic cells which comprises: (a) producing cells by the method according to claim 1; and (b) inducing the cells produced in (a) to differentiate. 